The viewing, or inspecting your boat is a very important part of the buying process. Inspecting will allow you to see what you are buying before you pay any money.

You may want to use a surveyor to do this, as they will perform a very detailed inspection of the boat you are interested in.  You can be present
if you like, as this will give you the chance to ask questions if you like.

Although using a surveyor is the best way to do an inspection, you can do it yourself if you are experienced and confident enough. There are many
parts of the boat to inspect, which makes it nearly impossible for beginners.

If you inspect yourself, make sure you look at the bottom of the hull, the interior, the control cables, electrical system, pumps, and be sure that everything is in working order. If the boat has been well maintained, you shouldn’t have a problem looking everything over.

The engine should also be checked, as it is very important to the boat. If you don’t know a lot about boat engines or engines in general, you should get a mechanic to look over it for you. You may want to do this anyway, as the engine can be very tough to inspect.

If everything is up to par, it’s time to take a test drive. Before you fire up the engine, check to see if it’s already warm. If the engine has trouble starting or smokes when cold, the seller could have warmed up the engine prior to you
arriving to disguise any problems.

Check for oil leaks as well, checking the bilges at the start and end of the test drive. When moving around, see how the boat performs. You should experiment with hitting the waves from different angles, looking for any type of roll or pitch.

Make sure you also test that all the instruments are working correctly, then run the engine for a period of time to see if it overheats. If you are buying a sail boat, put the sails up and see how the boat performs under wind pressure alone.  Also, make sure you examine the mast and how the boat rigs under load.

If the boat you are planning to buy doesn’t pass any of your tests, don’t rule it out just yet.If you are willing to put both time and money into making things work, you can use any problems as bargaining tools to try and get a lower price on the boat.

If you think you’ve found the boat of your dreams, it’s time to test it.  Testing your boat is more than just taking it for a test drive around the harbor.  You should look at everything closely, as a professional boat tester would.

Sometimes, it can be hard to tell a top quality boat from one that may have problems later on.  To an untrained eye, both can look good on the surface.When you start to break everything down and give it a careful inspection, you’ll be able to tell a great boat from a not-so-great boat.

By opening up all doors and access plates, you can get great insight on the the construction of the boat.  You should also stick your head into the anchor locker of any boat you are considering to buy, as if they’ve cut any corners you’ll normally be able to see it here.

Looking into the anchor locker also lets you look at the hull to deck joint.  If there is light coming from through, or if the fiberglass around the joint can be seen through, it normally means the boat has poor construction.

When you buy a boat, you should put it through a rigorous visual inspection.  It’s also equally important to conduct a vigorous test on the water as well.  A private seller or dealer will normally want to stack the deck, ensuring that the boat will perform well.

Normally, this involves a near empty gas tank, no gear or extra passengers, and keeping the boat in sheltered water. Therefore, it’s up to you to insist on a more realistic test.Think of the test as an actual day out on the water,and you’ll find out if the boat is indeed something you should spend your money on.

During your water testing, you should determine if the boat performs well and meets all of your expectations.  You should determine if the boat
travels at the right speeds, and whether or not it is capable of doing everything that you plan to do with it after you buy it.

When test driving the boat, you should put it through all paces in open water, cutting waves at all angles.  If you plan to test a saltwater boat, you should bring along a 5 gallon bucket and try throwing some water onboard.  Any boat you plan to use offshore should quickly shed water through the scuppers.  Some boats will pool water in the bow and drain slowly - which can be very dangerous in rough waters.

If a seller or dealer balks at the mention of any requests you have, simply find yourself another dealer.There are plenty of great quality boats available, ranging in prices.  Make sure to check everything very carefully before you make any decisions.

Almost all boats are constructed on a production basis, as this is the most efficient means of  production.  There’s only one set of molds and many
boats being built from the mold, reducing the cost of tooling per boat.  Normally, there are a limited number of options to make assembly line production more efficient in terms of cost.

Leaving the ranks of production boats, there are several types of custom construction.  There are many boats built with a limited budget, which is
normally by amateurs.  If you don’t want to build the boat yourself, the next level available is what sailors call “semi custom” boats.

These semi customs are normally built by small or mid sized shops out of one set of molds so the hull and decks could end up being identical.  The
builders will however, allow the owner to pick out the interior and other options.

The true custom built boat, or one of a kind boat, is specifically designed and built from scratch for a single customer with an unlimited budget.  A true custom boat is a one on one project, and can get very expensive before you know it.

Before you decide to go out and buy a custom boat, you should give the used market another look.Those who have built custom or even semi custom boats in the past do put them on the market for sale at some point or another.

This is a much less expensive way to go, simply because you won’t be paying a professional to design the boat from scratch.  You can find used boats that offer one of kind features and options, all you have to do is look around.

Normally, the prices for new boats will vary depending on the size and make, although many dealers
and manufacturers will be willing to sell you one for less than the cost of a new car payment.

Financing your boat

Financing your boat is just like financing a new car.  Similar to car and home loans, loans for boats have became even easier and more flexible in recent years.  The terms will generally range from two to 20 years.  To get the most from financing, you should compare rates online.

Outfitting

All new boats are offered with a variety of options and accessories.  When you are pricing boats, make
sure you factor in the costs of electronics, accessories, and water toys - then buy what’s appropriate for your boat type and size.

Most modern marine electronics are very reliable,loaded with features, and more affordable than ever before.Today’s accessories can make boat trips more fun, safer, and easier than you ever thought possible.

Operating costs

Boating isn’t like driving, as you aren’t using gas all the time.  If you fish or swim with your boat, your actually not using the motor at all.  If you happen to own a sailboat, the motor is used less.

Most boats today are less than 21 feet in length.  All of these boats don’t require a lot of gas, with most using less than 50 gallons of gas per season.

Maintenance

Simply washing down your boat and trailer with fresh water after each use will keep them covered between boat trips.  If you don’t have the time to do it yourself, you can always hire a professional.

Insurance

The insurance for boats will vary by length and type. Therefore, you should consult your insurance agent for quotes, or simply shop online.

Choosing the engine (or propulsion system) for your boat is very important.Both the weight and the horsepower will have a major impact on the performance of your boat.If you have a boat that’s underpowered, the engine will work twice as hard, giving you poor performance.

Now, we will take a look at the motors available for boats and vessels:

Outboard motor

An outboard motor is very popular and very useful on small boats.These motors are very light, powerful,
and extremely quiet.Normally mounted on the transom of a boat, there are boats available that offer a
motor well or even a bracket to mount the motor to.

The entire motor will swivel about, providing easy steering as the turning propeller pushes the stern
about.  Outboard motors come in many different sizes and the horsepower can use different types of fuel.

Stern drive

These motors are also known as I/O engines, and normally heavier than outboard motors. Consisting
of an engine mounted inboard and a lower unit attached to the transom, these motors offer power
and versitility.You can also tilt the motor up and down to help provide boat trim while you cruise.

Inboards

On boats that are over 26 feet in length, these motors are very popular.Similiar to the stern drive motor,the inboard motor is mounted inside the boat towards the center, giving you good weight proportion.

Inboards connect directly to the transmission, then on through the hull of the boat.Then, the shaft is attached to a propeller which will turn and propel the boat.The shaft is fixed and doesn’t swivel around.  Therefore, a rudder is mounted behind the shaft and propeller to help deflect the flow of water which provides your steering direction.

Jet drive

Jet drive propulsion systems have a big advantage - no propeller to cause damage or injury to those in
the water, including marine life.  Normally, they are inboard engines that will take in water that flows through a pump, powered by an impeller.

Then, the water is discharged at a very high pressure through a nozzle that will propel the boat.To provide steering for the boat, the nozzle will swivel.For personal watercraft, a jet drive is the way to go.

Keep in mind that when power isn’t being applied, jet driven boats will lose steering, as the stream of water that propels the boat won’t be there.Therefore, always keep any part of your body away from the pump intake - and never operate these types of boats in shallow water.

The first thing you should know when choosing a boat is that no single boat will do everything.  If your
looking for a boat that inspires confidence, don’t expect it to shine in light air.  Boats that are exciting to sail on the weekends aren’t the ideal boats for a passage through the ocean.

You shouldn’t expect to find quick acceleration and load carrying capacity together with the same boat.
You can buy a boat now to race or fish, then sail around later - as you can only do one or the other with a specific type of boat.

The logic to choosing the right boat is determining how you plan to use the boat.  Think about why you
want to own a boat, what you plan to do with it, and how you plan on using it.

For some, beauty is the first consideration.  For sail boats beauty is very important, as you’ll spend a majority of time floating and sailing around, with many people looking at your sail boat.  With people looking at your vessel, you want to make sure that it looks nothing short of amazing.

If you are planning to race instead of cruise, then speed is your primary consideration.  There are many cruising sailors out there who simply can’t be happy unless their boats are moving very fast.  The ideal boat for speed demons are those that can cut through the water, creating plenty of waves.

Fishermen on the other hand, want to look towards fishing boats.Trackers and other boats that are designed for fishing are ideal here.  Fishing is one of the most popular boat activities, meaning that you’ll have plenty of boats to select from.

When it comes down to it, selecting the right boat is up to you and what you plan to do with it.  Take
your time, weigh your options, and you’ll have the right boat before you know it.

Before you go out and purchase your boat, remember that boating is a hobby and you shouldn’t go
overboard with it.  Unlike your house, boating isn’t really worth going into debt for.  First time buyers who aren’t sure about boating should always make sure they spend well within their budget.

To get the most out of your boat, it’s always a better idea to scrape up your recreational dollars, sell a few of your belongings, and simply save up for a while.  In the meantime, you should carefully study the boating market.  When you manage to save up 3,500 - 25,000 dollars, go ahead and buy the boat you want.

Whatever you do, make sure you don’t spend all of your money on the just the boat itself.  When you
purchase the boat, you’ll need to have enough money for taxes, registration, storage, towing insurance, gas, equipment, and even minor repairs if your boat requires them.

When buying a boat, used or new, cash is always better than financing.  You can save money with cash, as there are no finance charges.  Financing charges can get high, very high in fact if you don’t know a lot about it.

If you simply must finance your purchase, it’s a smart idea to use a home equity loan instead.  This way, it’ll be tax deductible.  Always be on the lookout for boat show financing, and never, ever use it.  Several boat show financing ploys will extend the loan out over the course of 10 - 15 years.

A new boater will either advance with boating or get out of it all together.  Most boaters don’t keep their boat for more than 10 years, which is reason enough not to get an extended finance loan on your boat.

If you are going on a big fishing trip or just an outing there are several important things to consider before committing to your pontoon boat rental.   The first thing is what kind of trip you are going on.  For the most part pontoon boat rentals are broken up into three categories – fishing boats, pleasure boats, and house boats.  Each of these pontoon boat rentals tailors to a specific kind of customer and you will need to know what you wish to accomplish with your pontoon boat rental beforehand.

If you are looking to go fishing than this is probably the most common pontoon boat rental you will see.  Most places should offer you an extensive selection of boating options to choose from.  In addition, before you select what boat to rent see if the company is offering any specials or coupons.   There are many different fishing boats to choose from so think wisely before you pick one.   If you are planning to go deep sea fishing, the pontoon boat rental company should have boats specifically equipped for this task.  By the same token, if you are looking to leisurely cruise around the lake or ocean a pontoon boat would probably be more your speed.   Some places will even offer high performance racing boats for those of you who are looking for something that just goes fast.  Be sure you have experience and are able to control a boat of this caliber.

Renting a pleasure boat can be a great way to experience the lake or ocean without interruption.   Many times you can find packages that will include wine tours and other tours of the surrounding area.  If you are willing to pay you can even have the tours chartered so that you are completely free to enjoy the experience.  These tours will offer you a unique look at the surrounding terrain and culture.  If you have a never been on this type of tour, I highly recommend taking a charter of the area to really get a feel for what it is like.

The last option is to rent a house boat.  These boats offer you the chance to get out and sleep on the water.  This is the perfect get away for a family vacation, or an outing with friends.

As you can see all f these options offer their own unique way to get out on the water.  Take advantage and sea the ocean at your leisure.

There are many reasons to get a sail boat charter.  I will say right up front however if you are simply looking to cruise around the lake or ocean then you may be better served with a pontoon boat rental.  If you are looking for something more than a sail boat charter just might be up your alley.  There are many things you can do with a sail boat charter that you cannot do with a simple boat rental.  Let us take a look at those things so that you can make the right decision for you and your family.

The first benefit is that you will not have to sail the boat on your own.  You can sit back, relax, and let the captain guide you to where you need to go.  Whether it is a winery or a state park you will not have to worry about getting there, you can sit back and relax in style as the captain guides you to your location.

The second benefit is that if you ever have wanted to learn how to sail a charter offers you a great chance to learn the basics without getting into trouble.  Consider the charter to be a free lesson on how to get around the lake or ocean, just be sure not to be too pushy and absorb as much as you can on the trip as possible.

Sailing also offers the added benefit of being very environmentally friendly.  It is possible to get around easily on just wind power alone.  If you never have sailed it is very difficult to describe the allure of being able to get out on the open water with just the wind at your back.  It is a very empowering feeling that makes you feel one with nature and what is around you.  It cannot be replicated out on a powerboat.

There are some drawbacks to sailing however.  One it can be quite expensive to rent a sail boat charter.  The second is that if the weather does not cooperate you are not going anywhere.  A sailboat needs wind to sail and without it you are dead in the water.

Weighing the pros and cons of sailing and not sailing I will always lean towards sailing, but that is just the naturalist in me.  It is completely your decision as to how to travel, but if you have not tried sailing I highly recommend it.

If you are looking for a fishing boat rental but cannot decide on what to get, I can tell you a little bit about a boat I had great experience with and why.  While when looking for your fishing boat rental you may not be able to find this exact model, hopefully you can use what I describe to help pick out one that will work for you.

I had planned a fishing trip up into northern Michigan for many years and when I finally pulled the trigger on it I knew I was going to need a fishing boat rental.   I did my research and finally settled on what I thought was the perfect fishing boat rental – a 24 foot Stamas.  This boat appeared to be the perfect fishing boat rental.  One of my buddies was pushing for a sail boat charter, but I decided that that would be more work than it was worth, so we settled on the Stamas.

The Stamas is a great lakes fisherman vessel that has a 198 Mercruiser Engine and Outdrive with a 10 horsepower Evinrude trolling and safety engine.  The 198 provided more than enough power for us to get where we needed to go quickly.  The Evinrude was perfect for trolling and looking for fish once we got there.  In addition our boat had a depth finder and GPS, a marine radio and all the needed safety equipment.  As a bonus it came with extra rods and reels, but for the most part we had our own.

The best feature of this boat was the cuddy cabin.  With 2 bunks, a porta potty and other bench seats there was more than enough room for me and my buddies and we were able to sleep on board with sleeping bags.   This fishing boat rental gave us the freedom to explore and fish where we wanted to.  Because of it we were able to catch a plentiful amount of fish and even stop, set up camp and cook some right there.

Whatever your needs, if you are looking for a quality fishing boat rental I highly recommend the boat from Stamas.  It met my need and the needs of all my friends perfectly.  If I had to do it all over again there is not another boat I would look at or chose.  Take a look at one and make the decision for yourself.